HUNDREDS of paratroopers marched in the hot sun today on Downing Street to step up their campaign for a gallantry medal for a comrade dubbed "Corporal Bulletproof".

Hundreds of paratroopers marched in the hot sun today on Downing Street

Cpl Stewart McLaughlin, 27, was killed in the Falklands War in fierce fighting on Mount Longdon in 1982.

He was recommended for a gallantry medal just hours after his death by his commanding officers for his heroic efforts in saving the lives of his fellow soldiers and securing their positions on Mount Longdon during a 12-hour battle.

His family have been told his bravery was "in the vicinity of a Victoria Cross".

But the citation was lost - and the MoD has refused to grant his family a posthumous medal.

Cpl McLaughlin survived the 12-hour battle only to be killed by artillery fire shortly afterwards.

But today more than 200 retired paratroopers wearing their red berets were joined by Royal Marines, SAS veterans and Falkland Islanders in a march down Whitehall to deliver a letter to David Cameron demanding belated recognition for Cpl McLaughlin's bravery.

His son Stewart, 33, a property maintenance manager from the Wirral who was four months old when his father was killed, said: "We are gathering here to try to get recognition for my dad who was killed in the Falklands in 1982.

"A number of officers were killed and my Dad took over his company and ran the battle on his side of the mountain.

"With total disregard for his own safety, he moved his men out of a position where they were going to get killed, declared he was bulletproof and charged a machine-gun position and took it out.

"Earlier in the battle one of the guys was wounded out in the open but my dad managed to get to him under heavy fire and drag him to safety

His commanding officer Sir Hew Pike wrote up the citation but it was lost in the chaos. Sir Hew has rewritten a new citation and that is what we are trying to present to the Government.

Significantly he was part of the delegation which handed in the protest letter to Downing Street.

PAUL FULLER

Stewart McLaughlin Jr­, Cpl Stewart McLaughlin's son

The campaign has also been backed by Major General Julian Thompson who commanded 3 Commando Brigade in the Falklands War.

Mr McLaughlin said: "It would mean everything to me and to the guys who fought alongside my dad if he was given a medal.

"I have had other members of his section saying they owe their lives to my dad.

"I would like David Cameron to carry out a thorough investigation."

Last year the MoD carried out a new inquiry but turned down the medal.

But Mr McLaughlin said: "They did not contact my family, anyone who served with my dad or general Sir Hew Pike who actually wrote the original citation."

He was backed by former Para Grant Grinham, 52, who lost a leg when he and Cpl McLaughlin were hit by an artillery round at the end of the battle.

Mr Grinham, now a primary school teacher in Nottingham, said: "I fought on Mount Longdon in Cpl McLaughlin's section and I witnessed first hand and at close quarters the extraordinary courage he demonstrated that night.

"On several occasions he certainly saved me and others in our section from serious harm or death.

"I have no doubt we would not have made it off Mount Longdon without his actions.

"I would like David Cameron to look beyond the bureaucracy which is stifling this issue. This is a system that is unfit for purpose."

He added: "At one point we came under fire in the dark from a machine-gun high up in the rocks which caught us unawares and pinned us down in the open.

"If we had remained there we would have been shot and killed.

TONY SAPIANO

Hundreds marched to support the award missing from Cpl Stewart Mclaughlin's record

"But Cpl McLaughlin stood up in full view of the enemy, outstretched his arms and said: 'Come on lads. Follow me. I am bulletproof' and led us under fire to safety.

"Bear in mind two VC's were won in the Falklands for charging machine-guns."

His daughter Hollie Grinham, 29, a retail manager from Nottingham, said: "Without the actions of Cpl Stewart McLaughlin my dad might not have survived and my brother and I would no be here today."

Cpl McLaughlin's second in command, Colin Edwards, 58, now a handyman in Basingstoke, said: "He just kept egging us on, pushing us forward, always leading from the front, never faltering once. He went far and beyond what he needed to do."

Insiders say the campaign has the backing of all the key officers and NCOs involved in the fighting.

And as the men gathered outside the MoD, Cpl McLaughlin's platoon sergeant on Mount Longdon, John Ross, 62, from Belfast, said: "We are fighting against a bureaucracy that prevents retrospective awards."

An MoD spokesman said: “Our thoughts remain with the friends and family of Cpl Stewart McLaughlin.

“The MOD launched an investigation into his citation last year but found no new information or any evidence that he was treated differently from the other servicemen who were considered for an award.

"He was one of many servicemen whose bravery was singled out by commanding officers but did not result in a gallantry medal.”